On Thursday morning on WAPI's Matt Murphy Show, AL.com reporter Barnett Wright asked Carrington who he was supporting in the tightly-contested runoff.

"Obviously, I've known Paul for a long time, and I've worked with Paul," Carrington said. "I've met with him privately, I've met with him publicly, and we've discussed many issues. But over the time period, I've also had the opportunity to meet with Gary Palmer, I've had the opportunity to visit with him."

Carrington said he's discussed Jefferson County issues with Palmer, as well as issues of a broader scope, including immigration, tax policy, the Social Security system, economic development in the district.

"Based on these conversations, as well as my personal knowledge of Gary's faith and integrity, I firmly believe that Gary Palmer is the best choice to represent the citizens of AL-06 as well as the nation as a whole," Carrington said.

He also said that Palmer "showed substance and depth" in a debate between the two candidates this past Thursday at Regions Field.

Carrington's endorsement of Palmer is perhaps not all that surprising. In April, during the lead up to the primary race, Carrington made a controversial statement about Gary Palmer's eventual opponent in the Republican runoff, Paul DeMarco. Carrington said that he believed "that the best thing for Paul is to lose," saying that "sometimes the best elected officials are the ones that lose the race and come back because they get the opportunity to reassess who they are and what they believe."

Carrington appeared to be addressing some of that controversy Thursday when he told Matt Murphy that many people ask him who he is supporting.

"My point is I think the citizens elect officials to study issues, to do their due diligence, and then to say what they believe," Carrington said.

Palmer and DeMarco are in a two-man runoff for the Republican nomination in Alabama's 6th Congressional district. They will face off on Tuesday, July 15. The winner will go on to the November general election.